More progress must be made in fight against drug-related deaths

There were 485 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2010 – a fall from 2009 but still the third-worst figures on record.

Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, said:

"Yet again there has been a welcome fall in drug-related deaths but these are still the third-worst figures on record. We can see here the tragic consequences of the drugs epidemic in Scotland. Each death represents not just a life needlessly lost, but a family devastated and a community scarred.

"That is why Scottish Conservatives worked relentlessly to create a new national drugs strategy, based on recovery and leading to abstinence. It is clear from the high level of methadone-related deaths that too many people are being parked on this substance rather than using it as a staging post on the way to abstinence.

"The attempts of the last decade to merely manage the problem, based on harm reduction and this evident over-reliance on methadone just have not worked. The challenge now is to expand the range of rehabilitation services on offer and move towards recovery.

"The SNP Government has had a lot of support on this issue but not enough progress has been made. It is time they started to deliver for communities across Scotland."

Back to all posts